A project by Laura Melahn, Candidate for Menlo Park District 4 City Council
How decisions were made

Council decisions

Every budget, capital-project, and grant decision the City Council has taken that we have on record, newest first. Expand any item to see what staff recommended, how the Council voted, and the source document.

  1. direct

    Council direction: reduce FY 2026-27 General Fund transfer to General CIP Fund to $3.9M

    Details

    At the May 12, 2026 study session, Council directed staff to reduce the planned General Fund transfer to the General Capital Improvement Fund (Fund 501) for FY 2026-27 to $3.9M (down from higher amounts in earlier drafts). Helps narrow the FY 2026-27 GF deficit (proposed at $1.8M).

  2. direct

    City Council priority-setting workshop set 5 FY 2026-27 priorities

    Details

    Annual priority-setting workshop. Council set 5 priorities for FY 2026-27 (alphabetical): Climate action; Downtown vibrancy; Housing; Public safety (NEW); Safe routes.

  3. direct

    Council direction on Middle Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Rail Crossing — staff recommended finalizing design to shovel-ready

    Details

    Staff presented three options: (1) finalize the design to be shovel-ready while continuing to seek funding (staff's recommendation); (2) phase the project based on available funding; (3) discontinue the project. Total project cost re-estimated at $56-$65M (up from prior $62M point estimate). Design and environmental documentation estimated to cost $7.4M total; the 2024 Caltrain MOU covers $2M, leaving approximately $5.4M to be appropriated through an MOU amendment that staff said they would return to Council with at a later date. Design currently at 35%. Funding shortfall on full project: $34-43M.

    Staff recommendation: Staff recommended Option 1 (finalize design to be shovel-ready while continuing to seek additional funding).

    Vote: direction_received
    Staff report 26-010-CC
  4. direct

    Council study session on SAFER Bay FEMA BRIC grant

    Details

    Council study session to provide direction regarding the FEMA BRIC grant program for SAFER Bay.

  5. direct

    Council direction on rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) for street resurfacing

    Details

    Council studied RAC vs hot mix asphalt. RAC composed of recycled tires, reduces vehicle noise at speeds 45+ mph, 20-year typical life vs 15 years for hot mix asphalt; but 20-25% more expensive and more labor intensive. Council directed staff to include RAC as bid alternate for: 1.2-2.4-inch top lift overlay projects, arterial/collector resurfacing, summer construction projects.

Show source

Decisions come from the council_actions table, each linked to a source document in data_sources. Vote counts and staff recommendations are recorded as published in the staff report or meeting minutes.